In Canada, there is at present no requirement for periodic medical examination for personnel serving aboard vessels of this size and type. The owner/operator had been advised of his medical condition, but in the absence of any medical requirements, he continued to operate his troller. It was therefore in keeping with his condition and the exertion of swimming that he had a heart attack leading to heart failure as he tried to swim toward his vessel. The Canadian Hydrographic Tide Tables do not tabulate tides for Bottle Inlet as a reference or secondary station as it is not used by marine traffic. However, it has been confirmed that the tidal stream both to the north (Skidegate Channel) and to the south (Tasu Sound) was flooding, with the high water expected at about noon on 13 June 1996. At about 0900, the tidal stream rate would have been peaking. It is quite likely that eddies and counter-currents were caused because of the narrow and confined nature of the cylindrically shaped Bottle Inlet. This would have made the NIGEIISLE difficult to manoeuvre. The area has not been surveyed in detail and warnings to that effect are inserted in the Sailing Directions. The NIGEIISLE was refloated by the high tide and use of engines before the deck-hand was lifted off the vessel. It is not known why the owner/operator wanted so urgently to heave his vessel off at a time when the tidal stream was at its strongest and high water was yet to come. The vessel was not in any perceived danger when he tried to lay out a ground tackle; he could have waited until high water to attempt to refloat the vessel. The deck-hand recalled that it was the owner/operator's unilateral decision to heave the vessel off with a ground tackle and that he, the deck-hand, was not knowledgeable enough to comment on it. The NIGEIISLE ran aground partly because of the deck-hand's lack of experience and because of the owner/operator's and the deck-hand's lack of knowledge. Because the safety of the vessel and crew can be compromised by pre-existing medical conditions, it is considered that periodic medical examination could go a long way in eradicating the problem.Analysis In Canada, there is at present no requirement for periodic medical examination for personnel serving aboard vessels of this size and type. The owner/operator had been advised of his medical condition, but in the absence of any medical requirements, he continued to operate his troller. It was therefore in keeping with his condition and the exertion of swimming that he had a heart attack leading to heart failure as he tried to swim toward his vessel. The Canadian Hydrographic Tide Tables do not tabulate tides for Bottle Inlet as a reference or secondary station as it is not used by marine traffic. However, it has been confirmed that the tidal stream both to the north (Skidegate Channel) and to the south (Tasu Sound) was flooding, with the high water expected at about noon on 13 June 1996. At about 0900, the tidal stream rate would have been peaking. It is quite likely that eddies and counter-currents were caused because of the narrow and confined nature of the cylindrically shaped Bottle Inlet. This would have made the NIGEIISLE difficult to manoeuvre. The area has not been surveyed in detail and warnings to that effect are inserted in the Sailing Directions. The NIGEIISLE was refloated by the high tide and use of engines before the deck-hand was lifted off the vessel. It is not known why the owner/operator wanted so urgently to heave his vessel off at a time when the tidal stream was at its strongest and high water was yet to come. The vessel was not in any perceived danger when he tried to lay out a ground tackle; he could have waited until high water to attempt to refloat the vessel. The deck-hand recalled that it was the owner/operator's unilateral decision to heave the vessel off with a ground tackle and that he, the deck-hand, was not knowledgeable enough to comment on it. The NIGEIISLE ran aground partly because of the deck-hand's lack of experience and because of the owner/operator's and the deck-hand's lack of knowledge. Because the safety of the vessel and crew can be compromised by pre-existing medical conditions, it is considered that periodic medical examination could go a long way in eradicating the problem. The vessel ran aground while the owner/operator was retrieving a crab trap. To assist in refloating the vessel, the owner/operator decided to lay out a ground tackle with the vessel's skiff. While the owner/operator was trying to throw the fishing vessel's anchor clear of the skiff, the skiff capsized. The owner/operator, who was not wearing a personal flotation device, was thrown into the water. The owner/operator had pre-existing heart disease and had been warned against exertion on account of a history of lung disease. The owner/operator apparently suffered cardiorespiratory failure due to a pre-existing heart and lung condition which was aggravated by the exertion of swimming.Findings The vessel ran aground while the owner/operator was retrieving a crab trap. To assist in refloating the vessel, the owner/operator decided to lay out a ground tackle with the vessel's skiff. While the owner/operator was trying to throw the fishing vessel's anchor clear of the skiff, the skiff capsized. The owner/operator, who was not wearing a personal flotation device, was thrown into the water. The owner/operator had pre-existing heart disease and had been warned against exertion on account of a history of lung disease. The owner/operator apparently suffered cardiorespiratory failure due to a pre-existing heart and lung condition which was aggravated by the exertion of swimming. The owner/operator of the NIGEIISLE died of acute coronary insufficiency brought about by exertion and hypothermia when his skiff capsized due to lateral instability. His medically unfit condition and the lack of training of both the owner/operator and the deck-hand contributed to this occurrence.Causes and Contributing Factors The owner/operator of the NIGEIISLE died of acute coronary insufficiency brought about by exertion and hypothermia when his skiff capsized due to lateral instability. His medically unfit condition and the lack of training of both the owner/operator and the deck-hand contributed to this occurrence.